Rajon Rondo drops 19 points, 10 assists on Magic as Celtics win

BOSTON -- Rajon Rondo waited more than a year to celebrate playing in a victory.

Rondo made 9 of 11 shots and finished with season highs of 19 points and 10 assists while helping Boston end a four-game losing streak with a 96-89 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

"We didn't stop pushing the pace even though we had the lead," Rondo said. "We finally finished a game strong. They made a run at it, but at the end of the day we still got some stops when we needed and made the plays."

Boston entered Sunday winless in six games since Rondo's return last month after missing nearly a year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He sat out the second of back-to-back games earlier in the week and was fresh enough at the end Sunday to help the Celtics hold off a late push by the Magic.

"You just feel like you're really under control the way he was playing late," Boston coach Brad Stevens said.

Jared Sullinger scored seven of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Celtics, who let a 12-point lead slip to one in the final period before pulling away at the end.

"I think we execute a little crisper," Stevens said. "The ball seems to have found the right guys a lot, especially today. I think that's more of guys getting used to playing with one another."

Brandon Bass had 19 points and nine rebounds and Avery Bradley scored 17 in his return after missing five games with a sprained ankle.

Jeff Green was the only Boston starter not to score in double figures as the Celtics won for the third time in four games against the Magic, who have lost four of five overall and 11 straight on the road.

But the Magic couldn't stop Rondo, who had six assists in the fourth quarter.

"We stuck to our principles and what we wanted to do. He just came through for his team," Davis said.

The only game on the NBA schedule Sunday featured two of the league's bottom teams.

Orlando, which has just three road wins this season, rallied after making a push in the fourth quarter. The Magic went without a field goal in the fourth quarter until Maurice Harkless' layup cut Boston's lead to 75-68 with 9:01 left to play. E'Twaun Moore and Davis added layups during an 10-2 run that pulled the Magic within 77-76 on a pair of free throws by Kyle O'Quinn with 6:11 left to play.

It was as close as Orlando would get. Rondo answered with hook shot for the Celtics and Bradley followed with a field goal and two foul shots as Boston started to pull away. The Celtics sealed it with an 8-2 run in the final two minutes.

"We just wanted to come in and try to change the tempo of the game and just play fast," Harkless said. "Unfortunately, we didn't close the game out."

Game notes

Rondo was 5 for 6 in the first half while scoring 13. ... The Celtics scored 27 in each of the first two periods and led 54-45 at halftime. ... Boston G Avery Bradley returned after missing five games with a sprained right ankle. ... Orlando G Jameer Nelson did not travel with the Magic because of a sore left knee. ... Boston was 0-6 in games with Rondo in the lineup since returning from a torn ACL. ... Orlando last won on the road Dec. 16, beating Chicago 83-82. ... The Magic's 3-22 road record is the worst in the NBA.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

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Research Notes

From Elias: Rajon Rondo (BOS): 19 Pts, 9-11 FG, 10 Ast, 6 Reb, 3 Stl...
Joins Dave Cowens (12/29/77) as only Celtics players with at least 19 points, 10 assists, 3 steals and shoot over 80 percent from the field in a game (note: steals became an official stat in 1973-74)

Rajon Rondo made 5-of-7 shots outside the paint. He entered the game shooting 8-of-32 (25.0%) outside the paint this season.

Rajon Rondo scored 11 points outside of the paint Sunday (5-of-7). Entering the game, Rondo was 8-of-32 (25.0%) outside of the paint through six games. His average shot distance Sunday was from 14.4 feet (Season Avg.: 11.7 feet).